Samsung’s Tizen-powered smartwatch Gear S now official, allows you to make calls

It’s raining smartwatches. While Motorola’s Moto 360 and LG G Watch R are coming at IFA, Samsung also decided to pull the wraps off its next iteration in the wearable Gear range. The company has officially announced the Gear S. This IP67 certified wearable is dust and water resistant.

Needless to say, the Gear S is all set to compete with the circular watches from LG and Motorola, it should be noted that it runs Samsung’s own Tizen instead of Android wear. It sports a 2-inch curved Super AMOLED display. One will find support for 3G as well as Wi-Fi connectivity. This Bluetooth-enabled wearable also comes with improved multi-sensors and built-in GPS.

“Samsung is leading this exciting and rapidly developing wearable category through progressive innovation,” said JK Shin, CEO and head of IT & mobile communication at Samsung Electronics. “The Samsung Gear S redefines the idea of the smart wearable and the culture of mobile communication. It will let consumers live a truly connected life anywhere, anytime.”

Samsung claims the curved design fits comfortably around the contours of the wrist and one will also find customizable screen options and changeable straps. The wearable also offers turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation offered by the mapping service HERE, advanced reading technology from Spritz and comes with social media integration. It will also support the Gear apps along with Samsung features like S Voice, Find My Device and Power Saving Mode.

Along with the Gear S, Samsung has also announced Gear Circle, a Bluetooth headset. When paired with a smartphone, users can easily receive calls, listen to music, and make voice commands using this Bluetooth connection. It features a magnetic lock that clasps around the user’s neck when not in use, as well as a vibrate function to signal incoming calls and notifications.

The Samsung Gear S and Gear Circle will be available in global markets in phases starting October. It will be made available through Samsung’s retail channels and e-commerce websites. There is no word on the pricing yet.

Asus is also believed to launch its Android Wear-based smartwatch at the IFA this year.Microsoft’s smartwatch is likely to launch in October. Apple is also believed to launch its highly anticipated iWatch next month.  Acer has already given a glimpse of its upcoming smart band

US judge rules Microsoft must turn over overseas email, but company will not comply yet

A US judge on Friday lifted a suspension on her order directing Microsoft to turn over a customer’s emails stored overseas to US prosecutors, but the software company said it would not release any emails while it appeals the ruling.

Chief Judge Loretta Preska of the US District Court in Manhattan had on July 31 upheld a magistrate judge’s ruling on the emails, which have been held in a data centre in Ireland. That prospect had drawn concern from technology companies – fearful of losing revenue from foreign customers worried that US law enforcement might win broad power to seize their data.
Microsoft in particular was stung by revelations last year by former National Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden and has been at pains to prove to customers that it does not allow the US government unchallenged access to personal data on its servers. Preska had delayed enforcement of the government’s search warrant so Microsoft could appeal.

But prosecutors later said that because her order was not a “final, appealable order” and because Microsoft had yet to be held in contempt, there was no legal reason to enforce the stay. Preska agreed, saying her order “merely confirmed the government’s temporary forbearing of its right to stay enforcement of the order it secured.”

She added that “the fact the court has not closed this case cuts against Microsoft’s argument” that her order was final and appealable.

The judge ordered both sides to advise by September 5 how to proceed. However, Microsoft is still refusing to comply with the judge’s order, pending attempts to overturn it.

“Microsoft will not be turning over the email and plans to appeal,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Reuters. “Everyone agrees this case can and will proceed to the appeals court. This is simply about finding the appropriate procedure for that to happen.”

The case appeared to be the first in which a corporation has challenged a US search warrant seeking data held abroad. AT&T, Apple, Cisco Systems and Verizon Communications submitted briefs supporting Microsoft’s opposition to the warrant.

The case is In re: A Warrant to Search a Certain E-Mail Account Controlled and Maintained by Microsoft Corp, US District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 13-mj-02814.

Moto X+ 1 may launch next week along with other variants

While the buzz is that Motorola will be launching the successor of its Moto X along with the Moto G2 and Moto 360 soon, a new report suggests that the device has passed FCC certification.

First spotted by Tktechnewsblog, the FCC filing now reveals some details about the device. The filing shows that the Moto X+ 1 will measure 140mm in height and 72.6mm in width. This means, it could come fitted with an approximately 5.2-inch display. The filing also shows other specs like support for NFC, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, LTE and Bluetooth 4.0.

Now, considering it has a 5.2-inch display, the device could also be the rumoured smaller Moto S. “We’re not exactly sure what it is, but the evidence available limits the possibilities of what it could be to just two devices: the smaller Moto S (aka X Play) or the Moto X+1. Both devices need to pass through the FCC before release, but only one is expected to be released anytime soon,” reveals Phonearena. 

This means it could either be the Moto X Play or Moto X+ 1. However, the device being Moto X+ 1 makes more sense as it is slated to launch next week. It should be noted that Motorola’s global event invite has revealed icons showing a phone marked with the letter X, a phone with a G, a watch, and also a Bluetooth headset.

A report earlier today revealed that Google may release two Nexus devices. It will initially release a 5.9-inch Nexus X, which will be followed by a 5.2-inch variant. The report also said that Motorola is testing two Moto S devices  - one with a 5.9-inch display and the other with a 5.2-inch display. The second device with 5.2-inch display could be pushed as the second variant of the Nexus X. Motorola is likely to make this move only depending upon the reaction it gets for the Moto X+ 1.

Bitcoin promoter Shrem to plead guilty to unlicensed money transmission

Bitcoin entrepreneur Charlie Shrem has reached a plea deal to resolve U.S. charges that he engaged in a scheme to sell over $1 million of the digital currency to users of illicit online marketplace Silk Road, his lawyer said Friday.

Shrem, the former vice chairman of the Bitcoin Foundation, will plead guilty next Thursday in New York federal court to unlicensed money transmission, Marc Agnifilo, his lawyer told Reuters in an email.

Prosecutors had previously charged Shrem with operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, money laundering conspiracy and failing to file suspicious activity reports with government banking authorities.

Federal authorities shut down Silk Road last year, though a new Internet marketplace under the same name was launched in November. Prosecutors contend Silk Road enabled users to buy and sell illegal drugs and other illicit goods and services.

Soon after his arrest in January, Shrem stepped down from his role at the Bitcoin Foundation, a well-known trade group. He was previously CEO of BitInstant, a bitcoin exchange company.

A notice of a plea hearing in the case of Shrem and his co-defendant, Robert Faiella, was included in a calendar distributed by court officials earlier Friday. It was not immediately clear if Faiella, a Florida man who faced similar charges as Shrem, will plead guilty or move ahead with trial Sept. 22. He has previously pleaded not guilty.

But Faiella, 54, is expected to fly to New York for the hearing, according to a court order filed Friday. A lawyer for Faiella did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara declined comment.

Prosecutors are pursuing a separate case against Ross William Ulbricht, the man accused of creating and operating Silk Road under the name “Dread Pirate Roberts.” He is set to face trial Nov. 3.

Gionee Gpad G5 phablet with Hexa-core processor launched for Rs 14,999

Gionee has launched the successor to the Gpad G4 phablet, and at under Rs 15,000, this one could a surprise hit of the season. The Gionee Gpad G5 is priced at Rs. 14,999 and will be available next week onwards. There’s no e-tailer exclusivity arrangement.

The Gionee Gpad G5 features a 5.5-inch HD (720×1280 pixels) IPS display with Asahi Glass Dragontrail protection against scratches and nicks. It supports dual-SIM functionality and runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box. It powered by a Cortex A7 1.5GHz hexa-core processor (likely manufactured by MediaTek) and ARM Mali-450 MP GPU coupled with 1GB of RAM. The Gpad G5 sports an 8-megapixel rear camera accompanied by an LED flash, and a 2-megapixel front facing camera. It has 8GB of inbuilt storage with that can be expanded up to 32GB.

Sports a 5.5-inch 720p display

Thanks to 3G support, the front camera can be used for video calls. In addition, one will find GPRS/ EDGE for cellular data. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, GPS/ A-GPS, and FM radio connectivity are also present. Gionee says the dual crystal loud speaker with DTS technology should provide optimal audio output for a mobile device. Finally, the new GPad sports a 2400mAh battery, which is rated to deliver up to 288 hours of standby time, and up to 12 hours talk time on 3G networks.

80 percent of consumers fear privacy invasion in the Internet of Things revolution

This year saw the Internet of Things segment achieve mainstream spotlight with Google, Samsung, Apple and a host of other companies betting big on its future. Of course, the primary motivation for the tech majors is home automation, but we are likely to everyday things such as tables and chairs connected to the Internet thanks to the IoT revolution.

But a new study says that while companies might be gung-ho about IoT and connected devices, consumers are very wary of such a revolution. Nearly 80 percent of consumers have privacy concerns with wearables and IoT devices, according to a study conducted by Acquity Group, part of Accenture Interactive. While expressing their fears, consumers also said they would be okay with sharing data if suitably compensated with offers or discounts. The survey covered more than 2,000 consumers across the United States

It showed that consumers are most willing to share data in exchange for coupons and discounts based on their lifestyles (28 percent), information for better exercising (22 percent), information on better eating habits (22 percent), discount coupons for fitness equipment (19 %). The study also said that manufacturers should focus on these benefits for users while thinking up new devices. “69 percent of consumers [are] planning to buy an in-home device in the next five years. By the end of next year, a total of about 13 percent of consumers will own an in-home IoT device such as a thermostat or in-home security camera. Currently, only about 4 percent of those surveyed own such a device,” the study said.

While human beings wanting things for free does not equate to a ground-breaking study, there’s a lesson to be learnt for companies who are going to foray into this segment in a big way next year or in the future. Don’t collect data willy-nilly, but instead incentivise it (not only through freebies). What the study suggests is that companies would be more successful in ramping up adoption of its smart devices by banking on gamification models. With a huge spike expected in the IoT segment by next year, we could start seeing the real benefits of such incentivisation soon.

Xiaomi VP Hugo Barra: India will see faster smartphone growth than China

After the successful flash sales of their Mi 3 devices, Xiaomi today announced another smartphone in the Indian market, the Redmi 1S. The 4.7-inch smartphone, with a 1.6 GHz Snapdragon 400 quad-core processor and an 8 megapixel rear camera will cost only Rs 5999 and will also follow the Mi 3 flash sale model. Registration for the Redmi 1S smartphone will begin today at 6 on Flipkart and sales will open on 2 September.

Given that this is a smartphone which is priced for just Rs 5999 and is offering quality specs in its price range, it’s evident that Xiaomi’s latest device will also see good response from customers.  If you want to know whether to go for this over Moto E or Zenfone 4, read our comparison on the same here.

Xiaomi officially announced the launch at an event in Delhi where Xiaomi’s Global VP Hugo Barra and Xiaomi’s India head Manu Jain were present to interact with the press. Both Barra and Jain were there to help build the brand and talk about the phenomenal response that Mi 3 has got and also discuss the concerns that users have faced.

According to Barra, the company managed to sell over 90,000 Mi 3 smartphones is just over the one month since the launch, (Xiaomi’s sixth sale saw the phone get sold out in mere seconds once again). For a phone that was officially launched in July, this is a pretty big number and clearly Xiaomi as a brand has managed to gain some serious attention in the Indian market. And now Barra and co, intend to build on this.

Hugo Barra during the launch event. Tech2

In an interaction with Tech2, Barra said that despite criticism the flash sales are here to stay, at least for some time. Also don’t expect an offline Xiaomi store in India as the company firmly sees itself as an online one. “We’ve continued with this because we’re not aiming for volume right now. Our focus right now is on providing service and good customer experience. Even with the Mi 3, we’ve had users complain about issues such as those with the SIM tray. We could have gone ahead and sold say a 100,000 phones in one go. However we still have to educate our users about Mi3 and with these flash sales, its easier for us to reach people,” Barra said.

In fact after discovering the SIM tray issue, Xiaomi even put out a video on Facebook explaining to users about how to open the SIM tray. The company has also ensured that now micro-SIM adapters will be shipped with the Redmi 1S devices in the coming weeks, so that if you have a micro-SIM, you can use it on the Redmi 1S which has a Mini-SIM tray (aka the size regular SIM).

For now, e-commerce will continue to be a big focus for Xiaomi.

“We’re pretty stubborn in that sense that we are an e-commerce company. What we’re trying to do here, we plan to build our own website, have our own e-commerce store. We want to have a dedicated Mi store for that, because we think that’s the best way for users to experience our products. We will double down and triple down on e-commerce before we even open our minds to think about offline stuff,” said Barra. As far as retail distribution is concerned, he said that Xiaomi was in talks with other firms to help with this as well.

And it’s not just online sales, Xiaomi doesn’t plan to stick with traditional advertising in India either. This means no full page newspaper ads, or TVCs. Barra told us, “In China we do, one media buy a year. It’s a TV spot during the Chinese New Year.” So should we expect one during Diwali?

Redmi 1S is seen during the launch event. Tech2

“Certainly not in India and not this year. If we ever do anything here, it wouldn’t come out like that. Our media plan is to focus on social media and reinvest what you would spend in advertising into making the devices more accessible,” said the Xiaomi VP of global operations.

Xiaomi’s other big focus is customer service and after sales support in India. While initially they had announced exclusive service centres only in Delhi and Bangalore, new ones will also be coming up in Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Gurgaon.

According to Barra, the initial plan was to have three exclusive service centres by the end of summer but that’s already been doubled to six. The reason for this: “We saw how different the experience is if you want to walk into a Mi 3 exclusive store, which addresses the concerns of customers. Sure we have tied up with other service centres as well but we need to give our customers the unique Mi experience,” he said.

Redmi 1S will go on flash sale on 2 September. Tech2

On the difference between India and China, Barra said that in China “a lot of people are accessing the Internet on laptops as laptops are insanely popular” in the country. For India, he said, “Internet is still a mobile phenomena in India. People are discovering the Internet via mobile because they don’t have desktop computers or laptops. Everyone is experiencing the Internet through their own phones. So I think that that’s a leading indicator and I expect it (mobile penetration) to grow faster than in China. That’s how we’re thinking,” he said.

Barra added that, “India as a market has a lot of potential for smartphones, but it will probably take a couple of years for it to reach this potential. It’s like quarter of a size of China’s smartphone market or maybe even a fifth, so obviously there’s a long way to go.”

Where expectations with the India market are concerned, Barra refused to give any number but said that “given that kind of device that Redmi 1S is, and that it’s priced for 6k, we expect that it will be far more popular than Mi 3.” He also acknowledged that given the level of competition in India “everyone is a competitor, from local guys like Micromax to Samsung.”

We also asked Xiaomi about the issue that some customers faced on Flipkart when they found that their orders were cancelled by the online store. According to Manu Jain, the India Head for Xiaomi, one of the reasons for this could have been that the customer ordered the devices from a multiple number of devices with the same IP. “Flipkart does have its own methods and if it feels that a particular customer is just trying to buy the phone to resell it, then they would have cancelled it,” he said. He also said that Xiaomi had spoken to OLX, eBay, other websites where people who bought the Mi3 have been offering to sell the phone for a higher price and added that while in some cases the ads were taken down, legally there is nothing wrong with the ads.

Both Barra and Jain admitted that where the response was concerned, it has exceeded their expectations. And now it’s time to capitalise on the hype.

Will Google bring two Nexus smartphones to markets this year?

As far as the Nexus goes, it just may be that reports of its death have been highly exaggerated.

From news reports that Google planning to pull the plug on its celebrated Nexus lineup in favour of the new Android Silver series, to reports suggesting that Motorola is building the next Nexus smartphone dubbed Nexus X, we’ve heard it all. Now, a new report suggests that Google may launch not one but two Nexus smartphones this year.

A report by Phonearena states that Google will initially release a 5.9-inch Nexus X that has been in the news recently, and that could be followed by a 5.2-inch variant. News has it that Motorola is testing two Moto S devices  - one with a 5.9-inch display and the other with a 5.2-inch display. The second device with 5.2-inch display could be pushed as the second variant of the Nexus X. However, Motorola will take this move only depending upon the reaction it gets for the Moto X+ 1.

“According to a source close to the supply chain, Google may be cleaning up the unused devices. The main Nexus X is already set to be 5.9-inches, as we’ve stated before. But, word has it that if Motorola releases the 5.9-inch Moto S, Google may repurpose the 5.2-inch Moto S units as a second Nexus device,” the news site explains in the report.

It is also widely believed that Motorola could name the new smartphone Nexus X instead of Nexus 6 as the company cannot adopt the name due to copyright issues.  Going by most of the previous reports, this device is expected to feature a large 5.9-inch display. There is no word on what the smaller variant will be named.

Apple is planning a large 5.5-inch variant for the iPhone and given the existing fad for giant screen devices in the market, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a large Nexus 6 phone. However, a 5.9-inch display appears far too large, even in this current market situation. So, a 5.2-inch variant seems like a great idea. However, there is no word on if both devices will come with a similar set of specs except the screen size.

Xiaomi puts 40,000 Redmi 1s units for sale on Flipkart this Tuesday

After the success of its Mi 3, Xiaomi is all set to bring yet another uber-affordable smartphone with awesome specs in India. The Redmi will be up for grabs on September 2, following the ‘Xiaomi Tuesdays’ trend. The company, known to reveal information via its social channels, now reveals that 40,000 units of the device will go on sale on September 2. It is almost four times the number of Mi 3 units put up for sale in the first batch.

It should be noted that Redmi 1s is a budget phone priced at Rs 5,999, and the company is betting big on its success. Looking at its specs and the price point, we wouldn’t be surprised if the company manages to achieve yet another record sale in seconds. 

Following the similar annoying strategy seen during Mi3 flash sale, users will have to register to participate in the sale. Registration doesn’t guarantee a unit and it only means you are eligible to buy one. The company claims to have already received over 1,00,000 registrations, but the window is still open. No wonder, the company is accused of creating more demand than it can supply.

In July, Xiaomi had announced that the Redmi 1s will be sold at Rs 6,999 for the Indian market. However, the price has been dropped to 5,999 to further intensify the competition in the budget mobile segment in India. Despite the affordable price tag, the Redmi 1s comes with high-end specifications such a jaw-dropping quad-core 1.6GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8228 processor, 1GB RAM and an Adreno 305 GPU.

The Redmi 1S sports a 4.7-inch 720p IPS display. It comes with 16GB of onboard storage and a microSD card slot that further expands it up to 64GB. It is fuelled by a 2000mAh battery and runs Android 4.3 Jelly Bean with Xiaomi’s MIUI layer on top. There’s an 8MP rear shooter and a 1.6MP front camera.

Compared to smartphones in the similar price range, the Redmi 1S sports a larger and sharper 312 ppi display, thanks to the HD resolution. In terms of processing speed, it should offer a tad better performance than the Moto E and Asus Zenfone 4. Take a look at how it stacks up against the Moto E and Zenfone 4.

So long MSN Messenger! The 15-year old IM client bids final farewell

Once the world’s favourite instant messaging client, 15-year old MSN Messenger will soon bid a final farewell to the Internet. Post the smartphone age, the Microsoft-developed messaging client was one of the best IM clients known for its reliability and ease of use. The service was rebranded to Windows Live Messenger in 2005 and has since been known by that name.

Microsoft merged MSN Messenger with Skype rendering the former obsolete. Though it had axed MSN messenger from the rest of the world, has been available in China where it’s being run by local partner TOM and not Microsoft itself. Now, even the Chinese service will close down on October 31st and users in China are being encouraged to move to Skype with the offer of free calls.

MSN Messenger is just one of the many IM clients nearing extinction – a service that once attracted a major chunk of PC use, especially among the youth. While messaging clients date back to the 1980′s, it was in the 1990′s when Internet-based graphic IM clients actually began to catch on. That was the age when IM clients such as AOL, MSN, Yahoo, etc introduced the concept of ‘Buddy-lists’ where users could create a set list of people who they could talk to, emoticons for expressing feelings without the need for words, and profile photos. The easy and real-time messaging made it an instant hit, with MSN alone attracting 330 million active users each month.

While MSN is retiring this year, Yahoo messenger is still in operation although there are more bots than humans actually using the service. Others are either being abandoned for modern messaging services by Facebook and Google or have been made obsolete by smartphone messaging apps such as WhatsApp and the likes.

China’s Wanda, Tencent and Baidu team up to challenge Alibaba’s e-commerce might

China’s biggest property developer, Wanda Group, and Internet giants Baidu and Tencent unveiled a new e-commerce venture Friday in a challenge to industry leader Alibaba Group ahead of its U.S. stock offering.

The three companies said they will integrate online and offline selling, with e-commerce services in Wanda’s 107 shopping malls, as well as its hotels and resorts. They said they would invest 5 billion yuan ($814 million) to start. The venture adds to competition for Alibaba, whose Taobao, Tmall and other platforms account for some 80 percent of Chinese online commerce. The company is preparing for a U.S. initial public offering that analysts say might value it between $150 billion and $200 billion.

The new venture will develop services including online finance, the owners said. That could pose a challenge to Alibaba’s popular banking service, Yu’ebao.

China is the world’s most populous Internet market, with more than 600 million people online. The consulting firm McKinsey has said online shopping might triple from 2011 levels to $400 billion a year by 2015.

Wanda will own 70 percent of the new venture, the Wanda E-Commerce Co. Baidu Inc., operator of China’s most popular search engine, and Tencent Holdings Ltd., which operates games and the popular WeChat instant message service, each will hold 15 percent.

The development of such online-to-offline, or O2O, models is “an inevitable trend” in e-commerce, said the CEO of Wanda E-Commerce, Dong Ce, in a statement. He said the joint resources of the three owners should make the company the biggest of its kind.

Tencent also owns a stake in JD.com, China’s second-largest e-commerce company. Tencent has launched ventures to integrate e-commerce and online finance services with WeChat, which it says has more than 400 million active users.

Alibaba, Baidu and Tencent are increasingly intruding into each other’s core businesses. They have spent more than $7 billion since the start of 2013 to acquire or launch e-commerce, entertainment and other ventures. The companies are trying to become one-stop services for Web surfers who increasingly go online using smartphones and want more convenience, industry analysts say.

Wanda said it estimates its shopping malls and other outlets will attract 5 billion customers a year by 2020, making the company the “world’s largest offline commerce platform.” Dong said the company expects to sign up 40 million e-commerce users this year and increase the total to 100 million by next year.

PC market gets a shot in the arm as tablet shipment forecast cut in half by IDC

Tablets won’t eclipse personal computers as fast as once thought, according to studies by market tracker International Data Corporation (IDC). IDC on Friday cut its forecast for shipments of tablets and “two-in-one” devices combining tablet and laptop features to 233.1 million, saying growth would be about half of what was originally predicted.

“When we look at the global picture, it would be easy to say that the tablet market is slowing down,” said IDC research director for tablets Jean Philippe Bouchard. “But, when we start digging into the regional dynamics, we realize that there is still a good appetite for this product category.”

While shipments in mature markets such as North America and Western Europe were forecast to remain flat, those in emerging regions were expected to climb overall by 12 percent. Meanwhile, the outlook for personal computer (PC) shipments was less dreary than originally envisioned, due in part to businesses replacing machines powered by outdated Windows XP software.

IDC forecast that worldwide PC shipments would fall by 3.7 percent this year instead of by six percent as it had predicted earlier. Growth in shipments of desktop and laptop computers in mature markets would be more than offset by reduction in emerging markets such as Asia, Latin America and the Middle East, according to IDC.

“Programs to reduce PC prices, such as Windows 8.1 with Bing, have helped to improve PC shipments in some segments,” said IDC senior research analyst Jay Chou. “Nevertheless, the prospects for significant PC growth in the long term remain tenuous, as users increasingly see PCs as only one of several computing devices.”

People seem to be waiting longer to replace PCs and are increasingly tempted by alternate computing platforms, according to IDC.

A separate IDC report this week estimated that more that 1.25 billion smartphones would ship worldwide this year in a jump of nearly 24 percent from the 1.01 billion shipped last year. The number of smartphones shipped was expected by IDC to climb to 1.8 billion annually during the next four years.

“The smartphone market, which has experienced runaway growth over the last several years, is starting to slow,” said IDC research manager Ramon Llamas. “The key for vendors now is to maintain a presence in the higher-margin mature markets, while establishing a sustainable presence within the fast-growing emerging markets.”

Email turns 32: How an Indian-born inventor created electronic mail as a 14-year-old

Today, on August 30, email turns 32. How did this quick and free method of message-transfer come into being? The credit goes to an Indian American VA Shiva Ayyadurai who developed a full-scale emulation of the interoffice mail system which he called “email”. He received official recognition as the inventor of the computer programme from the US government on August 30, 1982.

Born on 2nd of December, 1963 to a Tamil Family in Bombay, Ayyadurai was only 14 when he invented the email system. Studying at Livingston High School in New Jersey, Ayyadurai began his work on the email system for the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. The interoffice mail system was copyrighted as, at that time, there was no other way to protect software inventions, Huffington Post reported. Nowadays, software inventions can be patented through the USPTO, but Ayyadurai had to settle for the copyright.

So where did he get the idea for emails? Ayyadurai took cues from the way mail was being transported internally in offices for designing the email system. He tried to replicate the ‘Pneumatic Tube System’ which was then commonly used to send interoffice mails across offices. The Pneumatic Tube System used a physical network of tubes that would transport typed mails to secretaries. Each secretary would also have an Inbox, Outbox, Drafts, Carbon Copy Paper, Folders, Address Book, Paper Clips (for attachments), etc., which they used to create and process incoming and outgoing mail.

He also observed the common template that followed in those mails such as fields for “To:,” “From:,” “Subject:,” “Date:,” “Body:,” “Cc:,” “Bcc:”, and incorporated the same in his version of the electronic mail. Ayyadurai conceived an electronic version of the system which was written in FORTRAN programming language.

Based on his work, Ayyadurai won a Westinghouse Science Talent Search Award for high school seniors in 1981. The official US copyright notice for ‘Email’ is now with the Smithsonian Institution National Museum of American History (SINMAH).

However, the claims Ayyadurai made for the invention led to controversy over his place in the history of computer technology, with some other people claiming to have invented email.

Apple reportedly bringing NFC-based payments platform with iPhone 6

Apple is working with Dutch chipmaker NXP Semiconductors NV to add secure near-field communications (NFC) technology into the next iPhone, which would enable the smartphone users to pay by touch, the Financial Times reported, citing people familiar with Apple’s plans.

NXP will provide the secure near-field communications chips that will allow an iPhone to connect with payment terminals or ticketing systems, the daily reported. (on.ft.com/VRN8xK)

NFC technology allows a smartphone to communicate wirelessly with other devices by tapping them together.

Apple has invited media to a “special event” in its hometown of Cupertino, California, on Sept. 9, when the iPhone maker is expected to unveil the latest versions of its best-selling smartphones.

Both Apple and NXP were not immediately available for comment outside regular business hours.

Apple to unveil iWatch on September 9: Everything you need to know

Apple has begun sending out invites for its September 9 media event and there are reports claiming that the company will definitely unveil the iWatch at the event. It is highly speculated that the iWatch won’t be only about health and fitness, but also about good looks, aesthetics and luxury.

Though we aren’t even sure if Apple will launch its iWatch next month, a lot has already been said and written about what we could expect from the weraable. In the last couple of months, rumours around the alleged Apple iWatch have begun to accelerate.

The watch is known to be capable of tracking heath-related factors, and also speculated to serve as a complete hub. Besides, it is also expected to perform some functions independently, but tasks like messaging and voice chat will require some connection to a smartphone.

From multiple iWatch designs to its release date, there have been speculations about it all. In fact, a comprehensive profile of Apple chief Tim Cook talked about everything from his childhood memories to his work on human rights, alongside some hitherto unknown details about the rumoured iWatch. There were also reports about Apple hiring luxury watch-maker Tag Heuer, for its rumoured stylish smartwatch.

Here’s a quick rumour-roundup for all we know about the iWatch, so far.

Design
If reports circulating the web are to be believed, Apple may launch smartwatches with multiple screen sizes and designs this fall. KGI securities’ analyst Ming Chi Kuo who is well-known for accurate Apple predictions had also predicted that the iWatch will be available in two sizes. She had also added that it could sport a fashionable look and will be able to work with the iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Display
While most of the watches have been sporting a 1.6-inch display, the iWatch is speculated to sport two sizes featuring 1.3-inch and 1.5-inch flexible AMOLED displays. Another report points out that Apple could introduce a smartwatch with a display that likely measures 2.5 inches diagonally and be slightly rectangular. The watch face is also expected to protrude slightly from the band, creating an arched shape, and will feature a touch interface.

Google LG G Watch announced recently

Battery
One of the biggest concerns about smartwatches and wearables in general is battery life. With the number of devices-per-household increasing, so does the charging needs for consumers, which is why longer-lasting devices such as the Pebble smartwatches have done better than the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Gear. In terms of battery life, Apple may have something different in mind. If some of the previous rumours are to be believed, Apple is testing newer and innovative ways for charging methods for the watch. This includes technology to enable inductive, solar, and motion charging of the wearable, thus minimising the constant battery consumption. One of the methods being tested by Apple is said to be using magnetic induction. Besides wireless charging, it could also come with and a 200mAh to 250mAh battery.

Other specs
Besides the battery and the display, we also know a few tidbits about some other features of the device. According to Kuo, one can expect a sapphire lens cover, biometric recognition and an NFC chip. Moreover, there has been buzz about Apple working on some new sensors that can check a person’s hydration levels, blood pressure, and sweat,  components that can assist professional athletes during their training exercises. This further fuels speculations about the wearable device combined with Apple’s HealthKit could be capable of tracking steps, calories burned, heart rate and more.

Health and fitness features

As the year flagged off, we have been hearing about Apple going on a medical expert hiring spree. In January, there were reports about two medical wearable specialists, including one of Indian origin, being brought on board by Apple. Nancy Dougherty, formerly with Sano Intelligence and Ravi Narasimhan, who has worked with medical devices firm Vital Connect had joined Apple.
Apple is also believed to have teamed up with some notable athletes to test the alleged iWatch’s fitness capabilities. In June, Apple has reportedly invited athletes from the MLB, NHL, and NBA to its Cupertino campus to brief them on the upcoming smartwatch. The company also provides them ‘the  opportunity for testing to be conducted in professional conditioning environments’.

Rumoured iPhone 6 models

HealthKit
Apple has already shown at the WWDC that it wasn’t just joking about getting into the Health business. The new HealthKit app is said to be capable of pulling in data from other third-party apps and this can be accessed by healthcare professionals as well of course depending on how much access users give to this app. Apple partnered with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic to make HealthKit happen, and the Clinic was all praise for Apple’s new innovation in the health sphere. With HealthKit, your iPhone will keep a tab on your important health metrics on a daily basis, and over a longer period. Now, the iWatch is believed to work in tandem with the Healthkit and the alleged iPhone 6.

Before the WWDC, Apple was rumoured to be working on an app called ‘Healthbook’ for the iPhone 6, which would utilise data from all motion sensors to bring native fitness tracking to the platform. The supposed motion charging method for the iWatch could also help in this regard, by tracking hand movements besides other vital signs. The app was said to be visually similar to Passbook and could work in tandem with the rumoured iWatch.

Initial rumours also claimed that the iOS 8 is expected to debut with the iPhone 6 and rumour has it that Apple is betting big on health and fitness tracking features, and will come integrated with the ‘Healthbook’ app. In fact, the iWatch was cited as the reason for a sudden interest in health tracking apps within Apple. However, the company has now introduced the HealthKit app platform, and its is unclear whether the app will be called Healthbook or  Apple may simply call it health.

The Healthbook app reportedly can monitor users’ vital signs such as heart rate, blood pressure, hydration levels, and also glucose levels.  The iWatch may collect data gathered by the Healthbook app from the various sensors in the iPhone. This is probably the reason why Apple has integrated the M7 motion co-processor in the A7 chipset. There is also the possibility of integrating iWatch with Apple Maps for location tracking and navigation.

With the HealthKit app, Apple has pulled ahead of Android.

Release date and pricing
The iWatch is expected to be unveiled alongside the iPhone 6 at Apple’s media event to be held on September 9. Earlier there were several reports pointing at Q4 release for the iWatch. Taiwan’s Quanta Computer is believed to have begun mass production of Apple’s first smartwatch in July and the launch was then rumoured to be slated for October. The production is suppose to be a boost to Quanta, whose work for Apple so far has focused on laptops and iPods, product lines that are in decline. Quanta’s role, though, is likely to raise questions about what involvement Hon Hai Precision, one of Apple’s biggest suppliers, will play in production. Kuo has also predicted that the watch will be available at varying price points, with the most expensive version costing close to $1,000. Apart from that, there has been absolutely no word on the pricing details of the iWatch, but knowing Apple, it could be rather steep.

Interestingly, Microsoft is also believed to launch its ‘fitness’ band around October while Samsung and LG have already announced their new iterations of the Gear and G watch respectively. Take a look at all the upcoming  smartwatches  that are expected to hit store shelves soon.

Moto X+ 1 passes FCC certification: 5.2-inch display, NFC and other specs revealed

While the buzz is that Motorola will be launching the successor of its Moto X along with the Moto G2 and Moto 360 soon, a new report suggests that the device has passed FCC certification.

First spotted by Tktechnewsblog, the FCC filing now reveals some details about the device. The filing shows that the Moto X+ 1 will measure 140mm in height and 72.6mm in width. This means, it could come fitted with an approximately 5.2-inch display. The filing also shows other specs like support for NFC, Wi-Fi a/b/g/n/ac, LTE and Bluetooth 4.0.

Now, considering it has a 5.2-inch display, the device could also be the rumoured smaller Moto S. “We’re not exactly sure what it is, but the evidence available limits the possibilities of what it could be to just two devices: the smaller Moto S (aka X Play) or the Moto X+1. Both devices need to pass through the FCC before release, but only one is expected to be released anytime soon,” reveals Phonearena. 

This means it could either be the Moto X Play or Moto X+ 1. However, the device being Moto X+ 1 makes more sense as it is slated to launch next week. It should be noted that Motorola’s global event invite has revealed icons showing a phone marked with the letter X, a phone with a G, a watch, and also a Bluetooth headset.

A report earlier today revealed that Google may release two Nexus devices. It will initially release a 5.9-inch Nexus X, which will be followed by a 5.2-inch variant. The report also said that Motorola is testing two Moto S devices  - one with a 5.9-inch display and the other with a 5.2-inch display. The second device with 5.2-inch display could be pushed as the second variant of the Nexus X. Motorola is likely to make this move only depending upon the reaction it gets for the Moto X+ 1.

China working on homegrown OS to take on Windows, Mac OS X and Android

China could have a new homegrown operating system by October to take on imported rivals such as Microsoft Corp, Google Inc and Apple Inc, Xinhua news agency said on Sunday.

Computer technology became an area of tension between China and the United States after a number of run-ins over cyber security. China is now looking to help its domestic industry catch up with imported systems such as Microsoft’s Windows and Google’s mobile operating system Android.

The operating system would first appear on desktop devices and later extend to smartphone and other mobile devices, Xinhua said, citing Ni Guangnan who heads an official OS development alliance established in March.

Ni’s comments were originally reported by the People’s Post and Telecommunications News, an official trade paper run by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT).

“We hope to launch a Chinese-made desktop operating system by October supporting app stores,” Ni told the trade paper. Some Chinese OS already existed, but there was a large gap between China’s technology and that of developed countries, he added.

He said he hoped domestically built software would be able to replace desktop operating systems within one to two years and mobile operating systems within three to five years.

In May, China banned government use of Windows 8, Microsoft’s latest operating system, a blow to the U.S. technology firm’s business which raised fears China was moving to protect domestic firms. Microsoft is also under investigation for anti-trust violations.

In March last year, China said that Google had too much control over China’s smartphone industry via its Android mobile operating system and has discriminated against some local firms.

Mutual suspicions between China and the United States over hacking have escalated over the past year following revelations by Edward Snowden that U.S. intelligence planted “backdoor” surveillance tools on U.S.-made hardware.

The U.S. Justice Department, meanwhile, indicted five Chinese military officers in May on counts of extensive industrial espionage.

Ni said the ban on Windows 8 was a big opportunity for the Chinese sector to push forward its own systems, but that the industry needed further development and investment.

“Creating an environment that allows us to contend with Google, Apple and Microsoft – that is the key to success,” he added.

Sony Xperia C3 Dual 5MP selfie phone launched for Rs 23,990

Sony has launched its selfie phone for India, intensifying competition in the segment of the market that has seen most launches recently. The Sony Xperia C3 will be a Dual-SIM phone and is priced at Rs. 23,990. It will be available from Monday, September 1.

The Xperia C3 was announced in July, and it’s clearly targetted at those who can’t have enough selfies in their lives. The highlight features  of the Xperia C3 smartphone are all centred around the front camera. There’s a 5-megapixel unit, with a 25mm wide-angle lens that Sony claims delivers an 80-degree field of view. And to top it all, there’s a soft LED flash as well. The back camera also sports a similar flash with an 8-megapixel sensor.

The Xperia C3 also has a single-SIM version, but the specifications are identical. In India, the dual-SIM version runs Android 4.4 KitKat out-of-the-box, with the typical Sony customisations on top, as well as some Sony apps. The dominating feature on the front is a 5.5-inch HD (720×1280 pixel) Triluminos display which gets some help from the Bravia Engine 2 technology. The processor is the 1.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400, which is also seen in the Moto G, coupled with Adreno 305 GPU and 1GB of RAM.

There’s 8GB of inbuilt storage and a micro SD card slot for expansion up to 32 GB. The battery life should be good considering the 2500mAh unit, which is rated for up to 24 hours of talk time and 1,071 hours of standby time, according to Sony. The C3 supports 4G LTE, Bluetooth 4.0, and GLONASS for navigation, besides GPS.

WhatsApp monthly active users now increased to 600 million, says Jan Koum

After announcing 500 million active WhatsApp users in April, latest figures claim that the number of active users have now increased to 600 million. This piece of news comes from WhatsApp CEO and founder Jan Koum who made the announcement on Twitter.


Last year in August, WhatsApp had 200 million users while the number doubled to 430 million in January 2014. The instant messaging space has been growing by leaps and bounds. Some of its competitors include WeChat, Facebook Messenger, Line and Hike.

Recently, Facebook announced to pull out the messaging feature from its mobile apps, forcing people to download  its standalone Messenger apps. Needless to say,  Facebook has bought WhatsApp for a whopping $19 billion earlier this year. In a bid to woo users, WeChat has started offering 1GB cloud storage free to help them store documents, pictures and videos. WeChat, which launched its operations in India in 2012, has over 100 million registered accounts internationally. The messaging application was the second most downloaded application on iOS in India in 2013. The report earlier this month claimed that WeChat is inching closer to WhatsApp with 438 million monthly active users.

With the growing use of messaging apps in India has hurt been hurting telcos. Indian telecom companies have been quite vocal about their dislike for over-the-top (OTT) services such as WhatsApp, Viber and the likes. Last month there was a buzz around TRAI implementing fees on such app, but the most recent report claim TRAI has rejected telcos’ proposal to charge fee on popular services like WhatsApp, Skype and others.

Karbonn Mobiles expects to go public by 2016

Karbonn Mobiles, the third-largest smartphone maker in India, expects to go public by 2016 as it bets on sales of Android devices made in partnership with Google to boost revenue growth.

“Frankly, I’ve been delaying it for the last couple of years because I wanted to know my valuation … and now my valuation has gone much higher in the last few years,” Chairman Sudhir Hasija told Reuters.

Hasija said he is waiting for the Android One launch in September – timed with the start of India’s holiday shopping season – to boost revenue growth.

The company expects revenue to grow to 80 billion Indian rupees ($1.32 billion) in the year ending March 2015 from 45 billion Indian rupees a year earlier.

“I am almost looking at 20 percent revenue in two years now from exports to Europe, South Africa and Russia …,” Hasija said. “Google is also supporting us … Probably this gives us a very very big leap.”

Karbonn currently gets 5-7 percent of its revenue from exports largely to South Asian markets such as Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Google said in June it was working with three Indian manufacturers to develop a sub-$100 smartphone for the Indian market this fall, getting Android software into the world’s third-largest and fastest-growing mobile markets.

As prices fall, manufacturers see huge opportunities for growth as most buyers in India use feature phones and first-time buyers often opt for sub-$200 smartphones.

Apart from Karbonn, Google is partnering Micromax Informatics Ltd and Spice Group.

Karbonn’s Android phones retail between 2,699 rupees and 14,990 rupees.

“A new entry level price point is being breached by the Indian home grown vendors every quarter …,” research firm International Data Corp said in August. “This ultra low-cost segment may not sound a viable option to the repeat buyers, but it works well on the targeted segment.”

Sales of smartphones grew 84 percent in India in the second quarter of this year, according to IDC.

Smartphone users in India are expected to grow six times to 385 million by 2017 from 2014, according to a recent study by Google and A.T. Kearney. (bit.ly/1t6sTuJ)

Karbonn is also scouting for locations in states with ports such as Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh to build a factory to ramp up production.

The company, which ranks behind Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Micromax in India’s highly competitive smartphone market, currently sources its phones from China, Taiwan and Korea.

Karbonn shrugged off competition from the entry of China’s Xiaomi Inc into the Indian market in partnership with local online retail giant Flipkart.

“We know the Indian market very well … my main forte has always been distribution,” Hasija said.

“So for all these (China) guys to come and learn the whole distribution … especially going to tier 2 and 3 cities will take some time.”

Nokia Lumia 930 and Lumia 830 surface just ahead of IFA

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With HTC all set to unveil its renowned M8 running Windows Phone OS, Nokia seems to be all geared to ensure the device doesn’t steal its show.

News has it that the company has already unveiled the Lumia 930 in Nairobi just ahead of IFA, while an image of its rumoured Lumia 830 as well as a new device allegedly dubbed Lumia 830 have also surfaced online. 

According to UK’s Standardmedia, the Lumia 930 was unveiled in Nairobi by Patrick Henchie, head of product for Microsoft Mobile Devices in South and East Africa. Powered by Windows Phone 8.1, the Lumia 930 is powered by a quad-core processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. It sports a massive 20-megapixel PureView camera, along with support for HD video, microphones and integrated Dolby Surround Sound. Sporting a 5-inch 1080p display, the device features an aluminium alloy frame and a polycarbonate back.  

Image: Baidu

There have been reports around Microsoft working on the Lumia 830 that is expected to be launched at the IFA this year.

Now, new images of the device have surfaced on Baidu. First spotted by Nokiapoweruser, the image shows frontal look of the Lumia 930 as well as Lumia 830. “If you compare the actual size specs of Lumia 930 ( 137 mm x 71 mm ) to that of Lumia 830 ( 139.4 mm x 70.7 mm ), the above render looks pretty real and also matches to what we have seen in leaked certification images,” adds the report. If you take a closer look at the image, the Lumia 830 image shows “Nokia customary 8:30 time” while other device shows 9:30, further hinting at the next-gen Lumia devices.

According to a previous report by GSM Arena, the Lumia 830 will also feature a massive 20MP PureView rear camera, similar to the one we had seen on the Lumia 1520 and Lumia 930. This is a big jump from the 8MP camera we had seen on the Lumia 820. Other features include a 4.5-inch 720p display, a Snapdragon chipset with LTE support and16GB of internal storage. The phone is expected to run on Windows Phone 8.1 and will come with a micr0SD card slot.

Sony says PlayStation network back online, user data safe

Sony Corp’s PlayStation Network was back online on Monday following a cyber attack that took it down over the weekend, which coincided with a bomb scare on a commercial flight carrying a top Sony executive in the United States.

Sony said on its PlayStation blog that its PlayStation network had been taken down by a denial of service-style attack, which overwhelmed the system with traffic, but did not intrude onto the network or access any of its 53 million users’ information.

A Twitter user with the handle @LizardSquad claimed responsibility for the attack on Sunday, and said the attack was meant to pressure Sony to spend more of its profits on the network.

“Sony, yet another large company, but they aren’t spending the waves of cash they obtain on their customers’ (PlayStation Network) service. End the greed,” one post said on Sunday.

Sony’s network business has been hit by attacks before, with a security breach in 2011 dealing a major blow to plans at the time for a looser network designed to allow for the connection of a range of Sony devices.

Since then it has invested heavily in the system and is now hoping the network can serve as a centrepiece of its plans to rebuild its business after years of losses in its flagship electronics operations.

Lizard Squad said it had also targeted the servers of World of Warcraft video gamemakers Blizzard Entertainment, whose website was down. It threatened to attack Microsoft Corp’s Xbox Live network, to which some users said they had problems accessing on Sunday.

“We don’t comment on the root cause of a specific issue, but as you can see on Xbox.com/status, the core Xbox LIVE services are up and running,” Xbox spokesman David Dennis told Reuters.

Blizzard Entertainment was not immediately reachable for comment, though its customer support Twitter account said the company’s servers were stabilising.

BOMB SCARE
Lizard Squad also tweeted to American Airlines on Sunday to say they had heard that explosives were on board a flight carrying Sony Online Entertainment President John Smedley.

That followed an earlier tweet from a game player’s forum telling the airline: “I’m gonna send a bomb on your plane be ready for me tomorrow”.

A PlayStation spokeswoman in the United States said the FBI was investigating the diversion of the Dallas/Fort Worth to San Diego flight. The FBI had no comment on the incident.

American Airlines said on its Twitter account that it was “aware of threats” made over the microblogging service and had alerted security.

Google Nexus line to continue? Nexus 6 could be named Nexus X, may launch in Oct

While we were made to believe that Google plans to pull the plug on its celebrated Nexus lineup in favour of the new Android Silver series, several reports circulating the web have been suggesting otherwise.

A report last month suggested that it’s Motorola and not HTC who is building the next Nexus device codenamed  Shamu. Now, PhoneArena has further learnt that Motorola will be building the device and it would be named Nexus X and not Nexus 6.

Needless to say, it is the sixth iteration of the Nexus lineup.

So,  going by the previous nomenclature, it is assumed to be named Nexus 6. However, the report points out that the company cannot adopt the name due to copyright issues. “Google will not be using that name because of trademark issues. Google already had some troubles with the family of author Philip K. Dick threatening a lawsuit because of the use of the name Nexus,” states the report. 

The report further talks about the Nexus X aka Nexus 6 release plans. Google is reportedly planning a secret launch and the device is expected to be launched around October or November, without any big announcement. 

Just like the previous report, this one also suggests a large 5.9-inch display.

Apple is planning a large 5.5-inch variant for the iPhone and given the existing fad for giant screen devices in the market, we wouldn’t be surprised to see a large Nexus 6 phone. However, a 5.9-inch display appears far too large, even in this current market situation. After all, none of the 2014 flagships have exceeded 5.5 inches for display size. For now, let’s take this news with a pinch of salt.

Amazon buys Twitch, a live video startup for $970 million

Amazon.com snapped up live-streaming gaming network Twitch Interactive for about $970 million in cash, reflecting Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos’ resolve to transform Amazon into an Internet destination beyond its core retail operations. This puts an end to the chatter on the web claiming Google’s YouTube is acquiring Twitch.

The move, announced by the two companies on Monday, is the largest deal in Amazon’s 20-year history and will help the U.S. e-commerce company vie with Apple Inc and Google Inc in the fast-growing world of online gaming, which accounts for more than 75 percent of all mobile app sales.

The acquisition involves some retention agreements that push the deal over $1 billion, a source close to the deal told Reuters.

“Twitch will further push Amazon into the gaming community while also helping it with video and advertising,” Macquarie Research analyst Ben Schachter said in a note.

Twitch’s format, which lets viewers message players and each other during live play, is garnering interest as one of the fastest-growing segments of digital video streaming, which in turn is attracting more and more advertising dollars.

The deal, expected to close in the second half of the year, is an unusual step for Amazon, which tends to build from within or make smaller acquisitions. Tech rival Google was earlier in talks to buy Twitch, which launched slightly more than three years ago, one person briefed on the deal said.

Neither Amazon nor Twitch would discuss how the deal came together or comment on Google’s interest.

In an interview, Twitch Chief Executive Officer Emmett Shear said the startup contacted Amazon because its deep pockets and ad sales expertise would allow the startup to pursue its strategic objectives more quickly.

“The reason why we reached out to Amazon, the reason I thought working for Amazon, having Twitch being a part of Amazon, would be a great idea for us (because) they would give us the resources to pursue these things that we honestly already want to pursue and they’d let us do it faster,” Shear said.

Ethan Kurzweil, a partner at Bessemer Ventures, which has backed Twitch since its earliest days, said Amazon’s expertise in developer platforms through Amazon Web Services gave it a window into Twitch’s potential growth.

“They understand the power of engaged developer platforms,” he said, noting Twitch’s popularity with game developers and publishers was as important as its popularity with consumers.

Bessemer provided Twitch an introduction to Frank Quattrone, a banker at boutique investment bank Qatalyst Partners, with a view to “catalyzing interest in Twitch,” Kurzweil said.

Quattrone advised Amazon on its 1997 initial public offering.

Twitch raised $20 million in funding last September from game publisher Take-Two Interactive Software and firms such as Bessemer Venture Partners and Thrive Capital.

Other venture backers include Alsop Louie Partners and Draper Associates.

More than 55 million unique visitors viewed more than 15 billion minutes of content on Twitch in July.

Some video game live casters on Twitch have embedded links to the Amazon’s online store. Analysts said the deal may result in more product tie-ins and a deeper integration with Amazon Instant Video and Amazon devices like the Kindle Fire tablet and recently launched Fire TV set-top box.

Twitch and Amazon did not disclose details on new retail opportunities for Amazon through Twitch’s network of gamers.

“We have lots of ideas we’ve discussed, there’s a lot of interest and a number of things we can pursue,” Michael Frazzini, VP of Amazon Games, said in an interview.

Ready, set, buy: Flipkart to sell 20,000 Xiaomi Mi3 units today

Flipkart and Xiaomi are continuing their Tuesday mania, choosing the day in the week to release a limited number of devices into the market – 20,000 units at a time.

So the next Mi 3 flash sale will go live on today at 2 pm with another 20,000 units of the Mi 3 to go on sale exclusively on Flipkart, yet again. The company claims to have already received over 1,00,000 registrations by Saturday.

Mi 3 flash sale now on August 26

In its official Facebook post, the company had also announced Mi 3 accessories that are now available for pre-order. The accessories list includes flip covers in white, blue and black. Xiaomi has also put up a screen protector for pre-order on Flipkart. The flip covers are available for Rs 559 each, while the screen protector will cost Rs 179.

The buzz around the device just doesn’t seem to die. Together with Flipkart Xiaomi has been re-creating record sale theatrics week after week, and we assume this Tuesday won’t be any different. As soon as the Mi 3 went live on the site on July 22, Flipkart couldn’t handle the traffic and the site crashed temporarily. Within 40 minutes, Flipkart claimed the Mi 3 was out of stock, but the site promptly said it would bring in the next batch on July 29 while the registration would begin on July 28. And to top it all, the second batch apparently sold in five seconds.

Its third batch sold out at a record less than two seconds and we saw a similar figure of 2.4 seconds for its latest flash sale that took place yesterday. Two seconds may sound unbelievable? This was possible as Flipkart had changed the process for the second batch wherein users simply needed to add the device to their carts, and could make the payment any time later that day.

Xiaomi’s fifth batch of smartphones that went up on sale on August 19 at 2PM sold out within mere seconds, yet again. Even with the evident demand, Xiaomi has been releasing meagre units, much to the frustration of the masses.

At just Rs 13,999, the Mi 3 packs a Snapdragon 800, which is by far the cheapest high-end phone available in the market. It competes with the likes of the Nexus 5, Galaxy S4, Xperia Z at nearly half the price. Read our Xiaomi Mi 3 review, to find out if it is worth buying. For those who were unable to get their hands on the device at the fifth try, check out four alternatives to the Mi 3.

Amazon goes one up on Google: Here’s why it acquired Twitch

Amazon, and not Google, has finally acquired Twitch.

The Amazon-Twitch deal comes as a big surprise as we were made to believe that Google has already sealed the deal. From reports about Google eyeing twitch for YouTube, buying the company secretly and staying tight lipped on the acquisition, we’ve heard it all. Moreover, Google’s YouTube buying Twitch made more sense. Now, most of us are wondering why would a company selling books, apparels and electronics would do with a video streaming service that lets gamers around the world connect by letting them broadcast gameplay videos.

However, one should know that Amazon has been growing over the years, and has been striving to expand its ecosystem. Now, with devices like Kindle ereaders and tablets and a smartphone in tow, the company could be looking to spruce up its app stores. Amazon devices are known to completely camouflage the Android OS and push in its services and app store. This means, with twitch, the company is possibly looking to create its own content for the devices.

“Amazon has gradually been building up its in-house video game studios, with mixed success. Games are a hugely popular use case on many mobile devices. Americans also spend upwards of $15 billion a year on video game content, according to data released earlier this year from NPD,” states a report by Mashable.  

Amazon has the option to create content and also snap up a company that already generates millions of views. Looks like, Amazon has opted for the latter in this case. Twitch is a video streaming service that lets gamers around the world connect by letting them broadcast gameplay videos, watch these broadcasts, and chat from wherever they play. Yes, it lets you watch others play a video game live, too, which has made some gamers celebrities in the Twitch circuit.  Though, it may sound odd, the concept has a vast following, and its popularity has rocketed since 2011.

Twitch is currently known to have over a million unique users broadcasting every month, and during peak hours, its traffic rivals and sometimes surpasses even Google. Twitch is a native app in both the PS4 and Xbox One consoles, both of which have sold over 12 million units, so Amazon has a big user base to tap into.

As traditional online advertising matures, the search giant is exploring new ad models to generate revenue. Online video advertising is considered one of the most promising sources of future growth for Internet companies. And with Twitch’s massive and highly-engaged user base, YouTube will have a lot more captivated users to shill ads to.

There were reports about how Amazon is preparing to take on Google in one of its core businesses, Internet advertising. Amazon is developing its own program to target ads using the information it gathers about the preferences of its customers and it will start testing the platform later this year. As traditional online advertising matures, Amazon could explore new ad models to generate revenue. Online video advertising is considered one of the most promising sources of future growth for Internet companies. And with Twitch’s massive and highly-engaged user base, Amazon will have a lot more captivated users to shill ads to.

Finally, Amazon is an ecommerce company, and it could easily use Twitch to attract buyers. The online gaming community is fairly large and quite active. So it is quite possible that the company may also use it as a marketing tool to sell its gaming products.